John Thon Majok
John Thon Majok is a senior program analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Global Risk and Resilience Program. Besides managing budget for the department, John Thon frequently speaks, writes, and provides thoughtful analysis on refugee issues and other topics of global concern.
Before joining the Wilson Center, John Thon was a contractor at the U.S. Department of State where he helped develop strategic outreach plans for global alumni and managed special projects at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. From 2007 to 2009, he managed a multi-country portfolio of State Department grants at the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. In 2006, he coordinated global outreach for the USAID-funded Diaspora Skills Transfer Program for South Sudan, leading to the return of over 100 skilled professionals to the region to help with post-conflict reconstruction efforts. In 2004, he was a congressional intern for Arizona Congressman at the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill.
A former refugee, John Thon was born and raised in South Sudan, and lived for 13 years in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya before coming to the United States in 2001 through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. He has written articles and served on panels about refugee camps; global refugee crisis; refugees and national security; refugee resilience; protracted refugee situations; and resettlement and integration, among other forced migration issues.
John Thon holds an MPA in public administration from George Mason University, with a focus on public management and international development. He graduated with honors from the University of Arizona where he received a bachelor of science magna cum laude in public administration, double-majoring in public management and policy, and health and human services administration. He wrote his honors thesis on globalization and human rights. He speaks English and Dinka, with basic knowledge of Arabic and Swahili.
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A Generation in Limbo: Protracted Refugee Situations in Kenya Must Be Addressed
›August 15, 2019 // By John Thon Majok
The 1951 Refugee Convention spells out refugee rights, including the right to freedom of movement. Yet 68 years later, 15.9 million people are trapped in prolonged exile, living as refugees for anywhere from 5 to 47 years and counting. The unprecedented duration of protracted refugee situations (PRS) and the increasing scale of forced migration demand a comprehensive response beyond humanitarian assistance.
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Keep Moving Forward: Refugee Resilience and Citizen Diplomacy
›August 15, 2018 // By John Thon Majok
More than 17 years ago, I came to the United States as part of a refugee group known as the “Lost Boys” of Sudan. In 1987, civil war separated me from my parents for almost 10 years. After 13 years of living in limbo in refugee camps, I was given the opportunity to settle in Tucson, Arizona, where I quickly integrated myself into the American society as a productive citizen. My story demonstrates the resilience paradox: Exposure to prior hardships helps us become more resilient.
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A Case for Refugee Resilience: Reflection on the Lost Boys’ Story of Perseverance
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Fifteen years ago last month, I was brought to America through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program after having lived in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya for more than a decade. As I reflect on my experience, it is my hope that it will inspire others and help inform dialogue on forced migration so that refugees are perceived not just as victims, but models of resilience.
